In Mumbai, its eateries are among the last vestiges of a bygone era. These restaurants were frequented by the rich and the poor, the common man and the extraordinary alike, before the age of the internet and increasingly exclusive establishments. By the end of this month, one such place, Sun-Shine Irani Restaurant will be closing down after more than a century of existence.
Located in Thakurdwar, a BMC notice directing its owners to vacate the place has left the restaurant’s frequenters heartbroken. The building that houses the Sun-Shine restaurant is as old, if not more so. Like many of the surrounding buildings, the structure is in a state of disrepair.
Talking to News18, the manager of the restaurant Ashok Shetty said that he was shocked by this development. “We have spent a very significant part of our lives here. I have been here for more than three decades. To be honest, I don’t know what the future holds,” said the distraught manager.
The building comes under the ownership of the NM Petit Charity Fund. Shetty says the uncertainty of his future associated with the end of an era has hit him hard. “This place was home to everyone. It represented Bombay in its true sense. The Parsi community, the Irani community, Hindus, Muslims, Christians all used to visit the bakery on their religious festivals. It had the cosmopolitan heart of Bombay,” Shetty it is said.
Known for its khima pao, bun maska and khari biscuits, this place was also a favorite spot for the great Rajesh Khanna. The existence of the Sahitya Sangh Mandir Natyagriha, an 85-year-old establishment, meant that it saw many faces from the film world.
Shapoor Firozmand whose grandfather started the famous bakery is now a resident of California, USA. According to a Mid Day report, Firozmand has approached the Supreme Court for some relief.
read all Latest Lifestyle News Here